Many elderly citizens fall.

The problem is when they continue to fall more than once or when they get an injury from a fall. You want to help prevent these falls in the first place. In order to do this, there are some things that you should know regarding elderly citizens and falling. The main thing you should know is that many elderly citizens will avoid telling their loved ones and doctors if they have a fall. They are embarrassed or scared that they may not be able to stay living in their own homes. Why is this a problem?

 

Preventive Activities

One of the reasons why it is a problem for elderly citizens not to tell their loved ones, elder care providers, or doctors about a fall is because they will probably be avoiding preventive activities. They may stop exercising which can lead to further weakness in the body, increasing the number of falls they might have. They may not use a cane when they should be. In addition, home modifications can’t be made if loved ones don’t know about a fall.

 

Fear of Falling

Another reason why it is a problem for elderly citizens not to tell anyone about their falls is that they probably have an increased fear of falling. This reduces their confidence in being able to move around and walk. With the decreased confidence, they are more likely to have another fall. The more falls they have, the more risk of injury there will be.

 

Continued Falls

In response to the fear of falling, elderly citizens may fall more often. They may not feel they can walk around without support. This may cause weakness in their legs and may cause them to become more unstable on their feet when they are moving around, as well. Continued falls are never a good thing.

 

So, what are you supposed to do about it?

If you don’t know that your loved one has fallen, what can you do? The only thing you can do is to pay attention to their confidence when they are moving around. If they seem unsteady, this may indicate that they have fallen in the past. If they don’t seem to get up as much as they used to, they may have fallen, too.

If you notice these things happening, it is important that you take all the preventive measures that you can for them. Move things around in their home, so it is easier for them to get around. Talk to their doctor about getting them a cane. Speak with your loved one about getting more elder care in their home.

 

If you or an aging loved-one are considering hiring Elderly Care in East Pittsburgh, PA, talk to the caring staff at Superior Home Care today. Call us at 412.754.2600

 

Sources
Nia.nih.gov
Ncbi.nlm.nih.gov